COLLEGE STATION-The Texas A&M University department of entomology wasestablished on February 25, 1889, when Frederick W. Mally was hired to create a department that would fight insects, such as the boll weevil. Since that time, however, the department has undergone many changes. It now focuses on a variety of research activities and works with the United States Department of Agriculture Agriculture Research Service in a joint effort to prepare graduate students for careers in entomology.
But no matter how advanced the department may seem, many former entomology students realize that their donations can help improve the department of entomology for future Texas A&M students.
Bill and Casey Clark’s $12,500 donation to the Texas A&M department of entomology will do just that
Their contribution was combined with the College of Agriculture Development Council’s matching donation to create the $25,000 Bill and Casey Clark Endowed Scholarship, which will be given to students in the urban pest control sector of the entomology department at Texas A&M.
Mr. Clark, who graduated from Texas A&M in 1957 with an entomology degree and is now the president of Bill Clark Pest Control Inc. in Beaumont, Texas, said he hoped his donation will help students prepare for careers in entomology.
“I’m a product of the entomology department,” Mr. Clark said. “I feel that it s important for students in that department to have an opportunity to receive financial help for school. ”
Clark said he and his wife decided to donate the money after working with the College of Agriculture Development Council, which has a matching funds program that encourages donations to Texas A&M.
“My wife and I concluded that donating money for scholarships is the way to go if you can afford it,” Clark said. “It helps out students, and the matching funds program is a big enticement to donate money.”
Roger Gold, professor and endowed chair in urban and structural entomology in the department of entomology at Texas A&M, said the Clarks have been a major contributor to the department for many years.
“This is not the first contribution they ve made to our department,” Gold said. “They ve donated money to the Endowed Chair in Urban and Structural Entomology in the past, and now they ve helped students by creating this scholarship. The scholarship money from the Clarks donation will aid students within the department by offsetting tuition costs. ”
Gold said the scholarship will be given annually to an undergraduate or graduate student within the department of entomology.
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